McLaren MP4-26 Mercedes

[ell66]

I don't quite get the interim car thing. Are they using the MP4-25, or sort of an "MP4-26(A)?"

its very simple, they want to gather tyer data on a known car, for example if they decided to use the new car and after 5 lasps they suffered massive degredation then they wouldnt really know if it was the tyers of the car...

as for the actual car, itll probably be the 25 with the new rear wing and maybe kers in there somehow.

[Lurk]

Everything is allowed before season start. They can run V10 turbo on 450kg car if they want.

ps : switches on steering wheel comes with MP4-24
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=6599&start=30
I already checked that MP4-23 don't have these.

[mith]

I think that missing one test isn't such a big deal especially when they're still going to gather some useful data. RB started from the second test last year and was the class for themselves from race one to the final round. Two years ago Brawn participated only in the last test and that also was enough.

If they're showing complete car day after tests, they are probably able to fasten it for that three days. So I guess they just think that's better way.


Oh, and that jokes of that button... I am pretty sure, that mods were going to clean up this thread anyway.

[Just_a_fan]

Re: the steering wheel switches.

I wonder if they're a way of selecting the rotatry switches in the thumb holes. I.e. the driver has to flick the toggle switch, alter the rotary switch and then reflick the toggle. I can see the rotary switch being susceptible to accidental movement in some situations e.g. rapid steering angle changes whilst bouncing over kerbs.

[ESPImperium]

What about the switches being used for the FFA activation???

I have noticed that the steering wheel on Lewis car is connected via a wire and Jenson has the 68pin connection. Also Jenson has a couple of extra things on his wheel where Lewis dosnt have them as well. I just wonder if both drivers have a diffrent way of approaching the wheel, where as most other teams have drivers use identical wheels more or less.

[Just_a_fan]

Could be to operate the front wing but then you'd only really need one switch (unless they are duplicated for driver ease). If they do operate the front flap then they do work in conjunction with the thumb rotary switches (one of them, anyway) as I believe one of them is used to set the angle change.

[akshat21]

Looks like Mclaren have something interesting on the Mp4-26 which they don't to show in the first test...

This is what Martin Whitmarsh had to say regarding the late launch

"There are new regulations for 2011 - and the MP4-26 will not only adhere to them but it will also sport a few fresh design features in response to the opportunities presented by those new regulations," said Whitmarsh. "So, yes, there will be some new elements, but as you can imagine I'm not prepared to add more detail at the moment." (Source: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88891)

[feynman]

If anyone can translate the voice-over, Lewis may (or may not) mention what that particular switch does in this video from Monaco '10 ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcMvt0rO20g


"Engine braking", I think he says.

[wesley123]

That would be funny then as these cars dont have engine braking anymore which was already banned since 2008 with the standardized ECU

[feynman]

You'll notice I didn't say anything about the regulations or SECU, I said I think he says "Engine braking".

(Freno motori)

What may or may not be outlawed in the regulations, obviously has no influence on the name given to a switch, and I believe one of the extra behind-wheel levers, for a function which perhaps simulates engine-braking.

One would hope, for an F1Technical site, that it shouldn't take long to figure out how teams could emulate, within the restrictions, a system of pseudo engine-braking.

[Owen.C93]

Also the middle dial switch controls the amount of engine braking as well.

I think it may be regulating the gearbox and clutch on downshifts so it doesn't lock the rears while still providing as much resistance as possible from drivetrain resistance.

[wesley123]

No that is engine mapping, pretty different lol

[747heavy]

One would hope, for an F1Technical site, that it shouldn't take long to figure out how teams could emulate, within the restrictions, a system of pseudo engine-braking.

one word - KERS

not sure engine braking per se is banned, it seems they limited some of the possibilties, the same goes for KERS, as KERS could be effectively turned into "brake by wire", but they put some restrictions in place, to limit the possibilities.

When the EBD became the new trend, engine braking was limited/not possible anyway, as the engine does not opperate with fully closed throttles anymore.
So the contribution of the engine, to the overall braking is reduced with the EBD.

Wood: What is the panel’s view on the effect of KERS on braking?

Hilton: The effect on braking is quite noticeable. Under the 2009 F1
KERS rules it is maybe 10% additional braking and it is maybe half a
second per lap from gaining time on the brakes. One of the effects,
though, is the manageability of that braking. You need to give the
driver a feel he’s comfortable with and that is always the same each
time he brakes. And that is quite a challenge.

Czapski: Probably the most outstanding thing about a Formula One
car is the braking. And it’s the thing most people don’t see: you don’t
notice it much on the TV unless someone has overtaken someone else.
If you can imagine your eyeballs popping out of your head pulling 6-G
peak – it’s quite a ferocious event. As Jon has said quite rightly, KERS
has a big percentage influence on that braking effort.
The regulations as they stand for next year leave us with a big
challenge because we’re not allowed to do what we would naturally do,
which would be to have brake by wire, so we can balance the system
correctly with the KERS requirement, with a stable charge of the battery,
with the driver’s braking requirement. I think the guys in the cockpit will
earn their money next year a bit more than they have done this year...

from http://www.ret-monitor.com/articles/wp- ... f/kers.pdf

[Owen.C93]

No that is engine mapping, pretty different lol

I refer you to these steps again, now click on the middle switch and it says it's for engine braking.

See this website, click on Lewis's car, then the cockpit, then the steering wheel. There is an option to see what all the buttons do on the front of the wheel. So it eliminates any of them.

http://stage.mobil1motorsport.com/virtu ... %2002.html

And in the youtube video you can see the paddle below the downshift paddle is for engine braking as well.

[wesley123]

See there you are wrong, those paddles are for the engine mapping under turning etc. which gives similair effect as engine braking, but it isnt the same at all. Engine braking was banned together with TC LC and all that back in 2008.

http://www.f1technical.net/development/187